Past commencements had incidents but no streakers

Students all over the nation are preparing for graduation this week, deciding what to wear under their gown, if anything.

Although running across the stage at graduation in nothing but a birthday suit may have crossed some graduates' minds, there has never been a streaker at a UA graduation.

I've already streaked before, which filled the streaking quota for my life - Deidric O'Neill Graduating senior

At least not as far back as Associate Dean of Students, Jim Drnek, who has been at UA for 15 years, can recall. However, Drnek said that other forms of nudity have appeared at commencement.

"Last year I had a guy in just boxer shorts - no cap, no gown," Drnek said. "I told him he couldn't walk. I don't know if he planned to streak."

Drnek said he did hear a story about a stripper at a graduation about 20 years ago. He said the person was dressed as a graduate, but then opened his robe, and there was nothing on underneath it. The person did a naked dance, but never took off running.

Associate Dean of Students Alexis Hernandez said he had never heard of or seen any streaking at graduation.

"Since (at least) 1990, we haven't had any streakers, but every commencement is a little weird," he said. "I am sure students have a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes."

Some UA students, however, said the fear of embarrassing themselves and their parents is too great for them to streak.

"I'm not sure I'd streak during graduation ceremony, as it is something I view as for my parents and they would be disappointed," said Eric Leven, a media arts senior.

"I've already streaked before, which filled the streaking quota for my life," said Deirdre O'Neill, a graduating senior majoring in Creative Writing and English. "Besides, my family will be watching and that would be a particularly embarrassing ride in a cop car."

However, both students said that if a streaker appeared at this year's graduation, they would definitely cheer the unclothed sprinter on.

"On one hand, I am looking forward to graduating and I hope it doesn't get too screwy. On the other, that would certainly be a memorable experience," O'Neill said.

Although no one at UA could recall any recent graduation streakers, some other Wildcats bore it all at another celebration a few years ago.

In 1997, more than one person streaked along Fourth Avenue after the Wildcat men's basketball team's Final Four win.

The first university streak is believed to have taken place at the University of South Carolina in late January or early February 1974.

From there it turned into a fad. Some universities in the late 70s held events surrounding streaking. Every Thursday before spring break at Oklahoma State University was designated "Streaker Night" in which over 10,000 people would gather to party and watch the streakers.

And still, the fad hasn't died off.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor has a tradition called the "Naked Mile" which consists of students streaking through the campus at midnight in April to mark the end of classes. Sometimes there are as many as 1,000 nude runners.

Dartmouth College has a streaking club, complete with student supported changing and refuge stations. The group, called "The Green Streakers," meets once a week.